Uncategorized

MY EXPERIENCE IN THE KIDNAPPERS’ DEN.

My name is ThankGod Okuk, I left for Abuja on Thursday 17th December 2020 in order to attend a friend’s wedding on Friday and Saturday.

On Sunday 20th I boarded Big Joe bus to Benin city, getting to Ekpoma, the driver told us that he won’t be going to Benin because it was already past 7pm, so some of us took our belongings and took a Sienna bus going to Benin, after Ehor we were attacked by a gang of Fulani herdsmen who shot sporadically into the air, after taking all our money and phones from us, the leader of the team then asked us to match into the bush, it was at this time that I knew that it was not just robbery but kidnapping.

After few minutes into the bush, the leader of the gang asked who was the driver of the vehicle, the driver identified himself, he was given a thorough beating after which he was allowed to go.

In the process of matching us into the bush with gun shots, one of us who is a pregnant woman fell down and could not move anymore, while they were trying to revive her, one other man escaped into the bush, this made the kidnappers very angry so they left the pregnant woman to die while we were matched into the forest .

We trekked for about three hours into the bush, crossed a river and ascended the hills which was about twenty minutes to climb and after which we descended into the ditch and then the thick forest.

I observed that the kidnappers had a sign of communication and direction inside the forest . I discovered that some rags were tied on some trees in the forest with a sign, once we approach the tree, they will point the torch to identify the point that the rag turn to, this happens to be the way and so we moved on and on using same strategy to find the way.

In another instance, once they heard any noise inside the forest we will be asked to stop while the kidnappers make a sound like that of a herdsman to cows, if there is a similar response it means that it is their colleagues but if no response then they will start shooting into the bush before commanding us to move on.

There were lots of dead bodies inside the forest with their hands tied to their back . We trekked for another two hours before getting to their camp which is located inside the heart of the forest.

On our arrival, there was jubilation, the place was filled with dead bodies and then one of them came and tied our hands to our back but they never spoke any word to us until the morning.

On Monday morning the leader of the gang who was being referred to as Alhaji came to us after he had made some calls to their boss and then commanded that we been beaten, we were beaten like animals without mercy .
After the beating, we were then asked to call our families for negotiation, anyone whose family did not give positive answer to the ransoms will be beaten seriously after series of gunshots in the air to put fear in their minds.

When it was my turn, the negotiator picked me up and began flogging me, then I began to beg him in Hausa language, I was shocked that he stopped and their boss then asked him to remove me among the others, then he asked me if I was from the north since I was bearded but I told him no but that I was born in the north, because of that, the kidnapper loose the blindfold that was on my eyes and asked me to sit in the ground while others lay on their stomach.

I then called my elder brother, at first I was scared that my brother will not respond positively and fear of being beaten again, but my brother in his wisdom even though fear could be felt in his voice, he told the kidnappers that firstly he has to talk to me and I was given the phone to speak to him, then he told the negotiator that things are hard but he was going to get them the money and that they should call him back by midday same day.

This conversation made them happy and I wasn’t beaten anymore but the others were seriously dealt with. After series of negotiation with my brother who was always given them hope. Finally, the ransom was settled and yet to be paid.

I was in the kidnappers den for four days without food nor water, once in a day the kidnappers fetch river water then add Tramadol inside the cup and give us to drink or else we will die of hunger, we poo and urinate on our body in the days we spent there. They kidnap passengers twice daily, both women and children, sometimes when the encounter any police escort, they kill the police and make away with his gun and cap and whenever this happens, the person that shot the policeman will be promoted.

Within the den of the kidnappers there is an amourer who services their guns.They have bags of bullets, different types of guns including two SMGs. Arms and ammunitions litter the ground as they always change guns in each operation, which means that the guns used in the morning won’t be used in the evening till two days time because their funder from the look of things is highly placed. They don’t eat real food, what they eat is garri soaked in oil with onions and Maggi. They don’t rape their victims but beat their victims to death.

Guns don’t penetrate them there in the forest. Before going out for any operation, they shot at each other randomly after which the leader brings out a white rag, spread it on the floor and all others will surround the rag and chant their incantations before leaving.

After my elder brother paid the ransome for four of us that night, the leader of the team sent me a message to the Nigerian police, he asked me to tell the police that they have come for the police and that they will kill all policemen that come their way because they have taken over Edo state and will soon start a war that will lead to the taking over of the whole state. I promised him I will personally deliver the message to the Commissioner of Police, Edo state. Four of them walked us into the bush until we got to a village, then they told us to walk into the village and from there find our way since my brother was already waiting to receive us .

Finally it was freedom at last .

PLEASE DONT EVEN ENCOURAGE YOUR ENEMIES TO TRAVEL OUT OF BENIN NOT TO TALK OF YOUR FRIENDS.

Thanks for a the love and care shown to me during my abduction in the kidnappers’ den.

ThankGod Okuk

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

You may also like

Business Culture

Sea Horse Lubricants Renews MC Ezegetive Brand Deal for 3rd Year, Welcomes Unku SP as New Brand Ambassador

post-image

By Chukwuemeka Iwuchukwu

In a bold move that reinforces its commitment to impactful partnerships and youth-driven marketing, Sea Horse Lubricants, one of Nigeria’s leading automotive lubricant brands, has announced the renewal of its brand ambassadorial deal with popular comedian MC Ezegetive (real name Onyekachi Christian Nweke) for the third consecutive year. Simultaneously, the company is unveiling the addition of fast-rising digital content creator Unku SP (Obinwanne Valentine Nonso) as its newest brand ambassador.

This dual announcement marks a strategic step in Sea Horse Lubricants’ marketing and branding journey, as the company continues to align itself with influential voices who embody the spirit of authenticity, innovation, and mass appeal.

Over the past three years, MC Ezegetive has become a familiar and beloved face associated with the Sea…

Read More
Business Economy News Opinion

PRINCE JOE OKOJIE: THE SILENT ACHIEVER RISING TO NATIONAL RECKONING

post-image

 

— As Edo Central Senatorial District Gears Up for 2025 Bye-Election

 

 

In the quiet yet politically vibrant community of Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area, a new chapter in leadership is unfolding — and at the centre of it is Prince Joseph Okojie, fondly called *Joe* by admirers and constituents alike.

Once a Commissioner for Agriculture under Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration, Prince Joe Okojie is being called upon by his people to step into a higher role — that of a national representative in the Senate, under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The growing clamor from the grassroots is a testament not just to his popularity, but to the transformative legacy he has quietly built over the years.

As Commissioner, Okojie was instrumental in repositioning Edo State as an agricultural hub. Under his stewardship, the state recorded significant strides in food security and livelihood empowerment. He prioritized inclusivity by…

Read More
Business

NDPC, IOM Partner to Strengthen Data Protection in Nigeria’s Immigration Sector

post-image

 The National Commissioner and CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, has pledged the Commission’s commitment to partnering with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in bolstering data protection compliance in Nigeria’s immigration operations.

This assurance was given during a working visit by a delegation from the IOM, led by Mrs. Emiola Oke, the National Coordinator on Immigration and Border Governance, to the NDPC headquarters in Abuja.

During the meeting, Mrs. Oke unveiled Project Capacity—a new initiative aimed at enhancing identity management, document verification, and policy development within Nigeria’s migration framework. She explained that the project involves extensive processing of personal data and emphasized the need for strict adherence to data protection and privacy regulations.

To this end, the IOM is seeking NDPC’s support in…

Read More
Business Health International News Opinion Travels

From Buns to Bank Halls to Bouillon Cubes – The Ever-Evolving Tale of Amaka Onyebuchi

post-image

 

Once upon a time in the vibrant campus of Federal Polytechnic Melle, a young Accounting student named Amaka Onyebuchi was juggling textbooks and trays of buns. Yes — buns! Long before she ever stepped into a boardroom, Amaka was already a master of the grind, hustling her way through school with determination and a dash of entrepreneurial flair.

After earning her degree, Amaka traded her apron for office heels and stepped confidently into the world of banking. She landed a role at Access Bank, where she quickly made a name for herself with her smarts, style, and a smile that could soften even the toughest client. It was a solid career path — respected, stable, and promising.

But Amaka had something else simmering inside her.

One day, she did the unthinkable. She left the predictable rhythm of banking and stirred up her real passion…

Read More
Business Economy Education

UTME 2025 Resit: JAMB Orders Retake for Nearly 380,000 Candidates Over Technical Glitch

post-image

 

By Anthony Emeka Nwosu

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has ordered a resit of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for nearly 380,000 candidates following a critical technical error that affected several Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across the country. The rescheduled examination is set to commence on Friday, May 16, 2025.

In what is being described as one of the most extensive exam disruptions in recent years, a total of 157 CBT centres out of the 882 accredited nationwide have been identified as affected by an “unpatched error”—a term pointing to unresolved software glitches that compromised the integrity of the examination process in those centres.

According to verified data released by independent data analytics platform, Statisense, two zones were significantly impacted: Lagos Zone and Owerri Zone.

Breakdown of Affected Zones:

  • Lagos Zone:
    • 65 centres were affected.
    • A total of 206,610 candidates will be retaking the exam.
  • Owerri Zone:
    • 92 centres
Read More
Announcements Business News Security Society

AI Innovation vs. Privacy: African Regulators Chart Path at NADPA-RAPDP 2025 Conference

post-image

By Anthony Emeka Nwosu

The fourth plenary session of the 2025 Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA-RAPDP) Conference and Annual General Meeting took centre stage with an engaging discourse on the theme, “Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Africa: Privacy Paradox.” The session, which drew leading minds in AI policy and data protection, was chaired by Tahir Latif, Vice President and Data Privacy and AI Governance Officer at the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority.

In a keynote address delivered on behalf of Dr ’Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bunmi Ajala—Senior Special Adviser on AI, Data & Research—highlighted the urgent need for African nations to strike a delicate balance between technological advancement and the protection of citizens’ privacy rights.

The session unpacked the growing tension between rapid AI adoption across the continent and the imperative to enforce data privacy regulations. Discussions revolved around practical strategies to ensure that…

Read More
Business Gadgets Government

NITDA Strengthens Collaboration with Key Government Agencies to Enhance IT Project Oversight

post-image

 

In alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at bolstering effective governance and service delivery, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has intensified efforts to ensure transparency and efficiency in federal IT projects.

As part of its mandate to act as the clearing house for all government IT initiatives, NITDA on Thursday paid strategic visits to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation (OAuGF). The visits focused on presenting the newly reviewed IT Project Clearance Guideline Document for feedback and collaboration.

The document, which is central to preventing corruption and duplication in government IT procurement, is also designed to foster accountability and value delivery in public sector technology investments.

Speaking during the engagements, NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, highlighted the importance of inter-agency cooperation, noting that no single institution can drive digital economic transformation in isolation. “We must…

Read More
Business Gadgets International News Software Sponsored Technology Technology Trends

CyberDome and Cato Networks Collaborate to Deliver SASE in West Africa

post-image

 

 

CyberDome, West Africa’s leading Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP), has announced a collaboration with Cato Networks, the SASE leader ,to deliver Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) across the region.

The collaboration has been described as a game changer for organizations in West Africa, delivering the Cato SASE Cloud Platform —which converges networking and security in a single, cloud-native platform through CyberDome’s always-on, locally managed Security operations Center (SOC). The result: a modern,secure-by-design infrastructure built for today’s cloud-first world.

“We’re blowing past the limitations of traditional IT,” said Eyal Titinger, Co-founder of CyberDome. “This collaboration brings together global technology and local expertise to deliver seamless, secure, and scalable connectivity—exactly what West Africa’s fastest-growing enterprises need.”

Goodbye Boxes. Hello Cloud Power.

This collaboration empowers organizations to eliminate legacy hardware and embrace agile, software-defined infrastructure. Benefits

include:

● Real-time, secure connection of users, offices, and cloud

resources across geographies.

● Built-in zero trust and SASE security to protect every edge.

●…

Read More